Making a Difference: Kelly Hale walks the walk

Published: Monday, July 21, 2014 at 04:32 PM.

Kelly Hale isn’t one of those folks who just talks about the value of community service.

The energetic mother of four, who lives in Santa Rosa Beach, backs up what she says with countless hours working to house and feed those in need.

“I do it because I can, I can because I want to,” she said. “I want to because it’s who God made me to be.”

Hale is the Northwest Florida representative for Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that builds and renovates homes for military service members who were severely wounded or disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2013, she and her husband, Aaron, an Army explosive ordnance disposal technician who was blinded in Afghanistan, were the first recipients of a Building Homes for Heroes home in this area.

Today, Hale raises money for the organization and spreads the word about its mission.

“I am able to use my life experience, my challenges and obstacles to advocate and help injured veterans and their families,” she said.

She’s also a strong advocate for military spouses and children.

“It's important for me to let people know ... that the warrior was not the only one wounded,” Hale said. “The spouses and the children were also wounded as well, and often forgotten about.”

When not focused on the military, she volunteers for Team Martina, the global charity founded by country music singer Martina McBride. Hale recently returned from Huntsville, Ala., where she held raise $33,000 for a home for abused and neglected girls.

She also participates in the BackPack program, collecting non-perishable food items for school children in Walton County.

“This is very close to my heart as I was a child of poverty, and often the food at school was what I would look forward to,” Hale said.

She said her goal is to encourage others to volunteer and get involved in their own communities.

“I merely ask for the Lord to use me as a vessel to do his good will,” Hale said. “All the glory goes to him.”

Kelly Hale isn’t one of those folks who just talks about the value of community service.

The energetic mother of four, who lives in Santa Rosa Beach, backs up what she says with countless hours working to house and feed those in need.

“I do it because I can, I can because I want to,” she said. “I want to because it’s who God made me to be.”

Hale is the Northwest Florida representative for Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that builds and renovates homes for military service members who were severely wounded or disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2013, she and her husband, Aaron, an Army explosive ordnance disposal technician who was blinded in Afghanistan, were the first recipients of a Building Homes for Heroes home in this area.

Today, Hale raises money for the organization and spreads the word about its mission.

“I am able to use my life experience, my challenges and obstacles to advocate and help injured veterans and their families,” she said.

She’s also a strong advocate for military spouses and children.

“It's important for me to let people know ... that the warrior was not the only one wounded,” Hale said. “The spouses and the children were also wounded as well, and often forgotten about.”

When not focused on the military, she volunteers for Team Martina, the global charity founded by country music singer Martina McBride. Hale recently returned from Huntsville, Ala., where she held raise $33,000 for a home for abused and neglected girls.

She also participates in the BackPack program, collecting non-perishable food items for school children in Walton County.

“This is very close to my heart as I was a child of poverty, and often the food at school was what I would look forward to,” Hale said.

She said her goal is to encourage others to volunteer and get involved in their own communities.

“I merely ask for the Lord to use me as a vessel to do his good will,” Hale said. “All the glory goes to him.”